A Las Vegas judge ruled the blood alcohol tests administered to Henry Ruggs are admissible as evidence in his case, according to Anthony Olivieri of ESPN.com. Ruggs’ attorney argued no probable cause existed for the tests, which occurred hours after the former Raiders wide receiver was involved in a car accident that killed a woman and her dog.
The Raiders waived Ruggs not long after he was charged with two felonies — DUI resulting in death and reckless driving. After being accused of driving 156 mph while impaired, in a crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Ruggs faces prison time. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled four times; it is now set for Sept. 7.
Ruggs, 23, refused to take a field sobriety test while on the scene, according to a police report. He was later hospitalized for injuries sustained in the accident. His blood alcohol content, measured two hours after the crash, registered 0.16 — twice the Nevada legal limit. Ruggs’ lawyer argued the receiver’s involvement in the high-speed crash did not give police officers sufficient grounds to test his blood alcohol content, per Olivieri.
“There’s obvious time constraints in applying for a search warrant for a blood draw,” Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman said. “Under the totality of the circumstances, there is more than sufficient evidence for a finding of probable cause for the issuance of the search warrant in this case. Nobody has mentioned so far that Mr. Ruggs was seriously injured in this accident and transported to the hospital, so he would have been unable to submit to field sobriety tests. Coupled with his refusal to answer questions, this does not result in a reward.”
The Clark County coroner determined Tintor and her dog burned to death in the November 2021 crash, Olivieri and ESPN colleague Elizabeth Merrill write in an expansive piece. Clark County district attorney Steve Wolfson indicated that, in over 40 years in the justice system, he could not recall another criminal case that involved a 156-mph speed.
Ruggs secured permission in March to leave home confinement twice per week. The former first-round pick has been training at a Las Vegas-area facility geared toward pro-level athletes this year, according to ESPN. He faces a minimum of two years in prison, if convicted, with a maximum sentence of 50 years.
How does having gone so quick and caused a deadly crash NOT qualify you for needing a BAC test?
The lawyer is just doing what he’s getting paid for. The only news is that the judge wasn’t biased or swayed by other influences to actually buy into that garbage. Good.
And leave it to scumbag attorneys to try and get a BAC test result tossed for somebody that did what he did.
It’s there job to do what they have to get him off not say right but he just doing his job. He ain’t a scumbag
His job is a defense attorney defending the un-defendable. Others in the profession with a conscience good a different path in the same line of work. Winning for him means getting a guy off guilty on a technicality and is as guilty as sin, while the victims family lost a loved one. Still a scumbag, bloodsucker, in my book.
“choose a different path”
The morally correct thing is to pull out every stop for the accused and make sure that the state cannot ever put someone away without going through the process correctly.
Defense attorneys are suppose to defend you. Sometimes those in need of defending are in the right or are in the wrong.
I don’t know how this idiot can only get 2 years. Seems like a slap on the wrist for killing someone and if you saw the video she was screaming being burned alive.
It will get really disgusting when the lawyers try to get it turned into a stayed sentence “as long as the defendent agrees to add a 140mph governor on his vehicle”. The attorneys will make a kings ransom while putting the victims family through hell.
The media is saying the family is “trying to find what he was doing before hand”. All evidence has to be presented to the court for both sides for a fair trial. I wouldn’t be surprised if “the family” finally discovers something last minute towards the latter stages of the trial.
It’s a good way to establish not withholding evidence.
Unbelievable. And his lawyer says there were not “sufficient grounds” to test him?? Man, talk about a single decision ruining your entire life. Not to mention the poor woman. Good lord…
imindless • 3 hours ago ———– if you saw the video she was screaming being burned alive.
**************************************
enough said
There’s a video?
There’s video but I don’t recall her screaming but others screaming.
She was passed out but still breathing according to one person trying to rescue her. The flames got to much and he had to pull away. She was burned alive.
The video from across the street at the apartment complex where Guard Alexander Heart works captured the video. I believe it has since been pulled. Mr Heart is one of the ones who attempted to get Tina out of the car. I have not seen the video from his security car, but witnesses have also stated you could hear Tina screaming from her Rav4.
wrongful death.
A-Hole should spend the rest of his life behind bars or better yet put to death.
And any attorney that defends this loser should receive the same
DUI is the most protected and under punished crime in America.
The reasons why are obvious, but that only makes it more despicable.
Can’t be much worse than the way Americans drive while sober honestly. I’d rather have some drunk speed past me than someone “safe” jamming up lanes and preventing proper spacing
You can’t really be this ignorant…
Or…he drinks and drives and rationalizes.
I will give credit…not many go with the “openly pro-DUI” stance. Unique.
I think mike is exaggerating, but it is wild how many awful drivers have a license. Not to mention the distracted ones. I met someone who openly said that his drive time is the best opportunity to catch up on the office. Since then, I fully believe the testing process should be more difficult
This guy has Cleveland Browns written all over him. Never mind the PR nightmare. He can thank tram player Deshaun Watson for taking all the heat.
Maybe Ruggs can be designated driver for Watsons message appointments
Literally killing two birds with one stone
No chance. Ruggs was a fringe receiver even before this. He’ll never see the field again.
NFL FO’s are heartless but not stupid. Watson is a game-changer. Ruggs isn’t going to move the needle.
Fringe receiver? The man is going to go to prison. He will never play in the NFL and it doesn’t have a thing to do with his “talent”.
He was on pace for 1000 yards prior to the incident; that’s hardly a “fringe receiver.” Not saying this guy should ever see the field again, but we should not mischaracterize his talent either
Somehow hell get a community service or 30 days in jail and be back in the league just like Donte Stallworth.
Much different circumstances than Stallworth.
Yeah, and there’s a new draft every year filled with talent.
Facts don’t matter I guess lol
Different circumstances with Stallworth but similar results, and Stallworth got a year suspension.
Not equivalent just because there was a death. Fault didn’t fall on Stallworth
The latest? Heh, which month? Year? He’s done.
My guess is ten years and he gets early with good behavior, but his football days are over. That will be a sticking point in the court room. People that do things like this don’t get the glory and riches, sorry.
Find a new dream, dude.
Throw the book at him.
Minimum ten years before a chance at parole.
The dude is still training??? Unless the Nevada penal system has an intramural football league I would think he’s wasting his time.
Well, he’s got a lot to think about. It can’t be easy being him.
All dogs go to heaven.
Let the punishment fit the crime.
If he is found guilty,
Lock him up for the 50 year maximum.
Latest? A long ass time in prison
Looks like the best way to murder people is hit them with a car.
If you are killing protesters in FL, maybe…
But, if you are trying to murder, say, LOTS of people in grocery stores or elementary schools or churches or country music festivals or Walmarts, etc. then AR-15’s sure do seem to be the way to go.
Luckily, we make sure not to inconvenience anyone who wants to do just that.
Watch the courts give him two years of prison time and the lawyers ask to give him time off for house arrest. Where Ruggs ends up serving no time behind bars. I’m waiting for it.
Forgot to mention the dog he killed too
Lawyers are scum bags.
I’m a raiders and thus (former) Ruggs fan. He deserves to be defended against overcharging but that’s it. Trying to get off on a technicality doesn’t negate that he was drunk and speeding faster than a car should allow and killed someone when there are ample opportunities to get a ride home.
I hope he learns his lesson and does time- plenty of time. But putting a 23 year old kid behind bars for life is probably not helping anything. And if/when he is released he should never be allowed to operate a motor vehicle again.
Ridiculous he drove 156 mph and killed an innocent 23 yr old. He should get the same treatment! Life is what he deserves and if that was your daughter I’m sure you’d feel the same and wouldn’t make such a stupid comment. I’m f he gets released I hope someone runs him over at 156 mph like he deserves!
“The RAV4 was propelled 571 feet.”
I just happened upon this ESPN article again. This can’t be right. If it is, this woman most likely died on impact (dog, too). That means upon impact that car flew/slid almost two football fields.
All they would need to nail this shut are those numbers on slide in the court room.
That’s not drunk driving. That’s INSANE…
…NASCAR doesn’t even see incidence like that. Hell, try to replicate that kind of accident science. Good luck.